Franklin Child Custody Lawyer

Trusted child custody lawyers with over 20 years of experience.

Patterson Bray PLLC has been handling custody matters across Tennessee for over 20 years. Our Franklin, TN child custody lawyer will assess your situation, explain how Tennessee’s parenting plan system works, and fight for an arrangement that protects your time with your children. If you are dealing with a custody issue in Williamson County, reach out to our office to schedule a consultation.

Child Custody Lawyer Franklin, TN

Tennessee does not use the term “custody” the way most people expect. Instead, the state uses a parenting plan system that assigns each parent specific residential time and decision-making authority. Every divorce or separation involving minor children must include a permanent parenting plan approved by the court. A custody attorney helps you negotiate or litigate the terms of that plan, including where the children live, how major decisions are made, and how holidays, vacations, and school schedules are divided. In Franklin, these matters are heard in the Williamson County Circuit or Chancery Court. The outcome of a custody case depends heavily on how well the facts are presented, and that requires an attorney who understands what judges in this county are looking for.

Types of Child Custody Cases We Handle in Franklin

Patterson Bray PLLC handles a wide range of custody matters for parents in the Franklin, TN area. No two families are the same, and the legal strategy has to reflect the specific facts of each case.

Sole custody. In some situations, one parent is designated as the primary residential parent with the majority of parenting time. This typically occurs when the other parent has a history of domestic violence, substance abuse, or prolonged absence from the child’s life.
Joint custody. Tennessee law does not presume joint custody, but courts can and do award shared parenting time when it serves the child’s best interests. Joint custody arrangements require significant cooperation between parents and a clear plan for how decisions will be made.
Physical custody. Physical custody refers to where the child lives on a day-to-day basis. The parenting plan specifies the residential schedule, including overnights, weekdays, and weekends for each parent.
Legal custody. Legal custody covers which parent has the authority to make major decisions about the child’s education, religion, healthcare, and extracurricular activities. Parents may share this authority or one parent may hold it exclusively.
Temporary custody orders. During a pending divorce or custody case, the court can enter temporary orders that establish where the children live and how parenting time is divided until a permanent plan is in place.
Custody modifications. If circumstances have changed materially since the original parenting plan was entered, the court may modify the arrangement. This requires showing that the change affects the child’s wellbeing and that the proposed modification is in the child’s best interests.
Parental relocation. Tennessee law requires a parent who wants to move more than 50 miles away or out of state to provide written notice to the other parent. The non-relocating parent can object, and the court will decide whether the move is permitted based on the child’s best interests.
Child support. Child support and custody are closely connected. The parenting schedule directly affects the support calculation, and we make sure both issues are addressed together so that the financial arrangement reflects the actual time each parent spends with the children.

Why Choose Patterson Bray PLLC for Child Custody in Franklin, TN?

Extensive Family Law Experience

Austin T. Rainey is a partner at Patterson Bray PLLC who leads the firm’s family law practice. He earned his J.D. from the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law in 2012 after graduating from Clemson University with a civil engineering degree. Austin is admitted in Tennessee, Mississippi, and several federal courts including the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.

He was recognized by Best Lawyers in America across multiple editions and named to the National Academy of Family Law Attorneys Top 10 Under 40 list in 2017 and 2018. Austin also received the 2017 Tennessee Supreme Court Attorneys for Justice Pro Bono Service Award. His family law practice covers custody disputes, high-net-worth divorces, property division, and spousal support across Williamson County and throughout Tennessee. He has achieved favorable outcomes in contested custody cases where parenting time, decision-making authority, and relocation were at issue.

A Firm With More Than Family Law

Patterson Bray PLLC has been serving Tennessee clients for over 20 years across family law, personal injury, estate planning, and business litigation. That range is relevant in custody cases because parenting disputes often involve financial complexity. Business valuations, income calculations for support purposes, and trust-held assets all come into play. Having attorneys across those disciplines means we can address the full picture rather than just the custody schedule. Patterson Bray PLLC has been recognized as a Tier 1 law firm by U.S. News & World Report.

Understanding Child Custody Cases

Types of Custody and Best Interest Factors

Tennessee courts make custody decisions based on the child’s best interests. There is no automatic preference for either parent. The court weighs a list of statutory factors when deciding how to allocate parenting time and decision-making authority. Those factors include:

The emotional ties between each parent and the child
Each parent’s ability and willingness to facilitate a close relationship between the child and the other parent
The stability of the home environment offered by each parent
The mental and physical health of each parent
The child’s preference, if the child is 12 years of age or older
Evidence of domestic violence, physical abuse, or emotional abuse
Each parent’s involvement in the child’s education, healthcare, and daily routine

Courts may also appoint a guardian ad litem to investigate the family situation and make a recommendation to the judge. The guardian ad litem represents the child’s interests, not either parent’s.

Important Aspects in Your Custody Case

Several factors can significantly influence the outcome of a custody dispute in Williamson County. Being aware of them early helps you avoid mistakes.

Both parents are required to complete a four-hour parenting education course before the court will finalize any custody arrangement. Failure to attend can result in a contempt finding. Tennessee courts also generally require parents to attempt mediation before a contested custody matter can proceed to trial. These requirements apply whether the custody issue arises from a divorce, a paternity action, or a modification proceeding.

Documentation matters in custody cases. Records of your involvement in the child’s life, school attendance, medical appointments, extracurricular activities, and communications with the other parent can all serve as evidence. Judges want to see which parent has been consistently present.

One thing to avoid: speaking negatively about the other parent in front of the children or on social media. Tennessee courts consider each parent’s willingness to support the child’s relationship with the other parent, and this factor carries real weight.

Child Custody Case Timeline

Every custody case follows its own path, but here is a general sense of the process in Franklin:

Filing the complaint or petition and serving the other parent
Entry of temporary parenting orders to address custody and support while the case is pending
Both parents completing the required parenting education seminar
Discovery, including financial disclosures, witness lists, and any evaluations ordered by the court
Mediation, which is typically required before a trial date is set
Trial, if mediation does not resolve all issues, where the judge hears evidence and enters a permanent parenting plan

Some cases resolve at mediation within a few months. Contested cases in Williamson County can take a year or longer depending on the issues involved and the court’s schedule.

What to Bring to Your Child Custody Consultation

If you are meeting with a custody attorney in Franklin for the first time, bring what will help us understand your family situation quickly.

A timeline of your involvement in the child’s daily routine, including school, medical care, and activities
Any existing court orders, temporary parenting plans, or divorce filings
Documentation of the other parent’s behavior that concerns you, including texts, emails, or police reports
Financial records showing your income and the other parent’s income, if available

We will review the facts, discuss your goals for the parenting arrangement, and explain what to expect going forward. Your consultation is also the right time to ask questions about how violations are handled if the other parent does not follow the court’s orders.

Tennessee Legal Resources for Child Custody

Tennessee provides several public resources for parents navigating custody matters. Here are a few starting points.

The parenting plan forms page provides the required parenting plan forms and instructions that must be filed in every custody case involving minor children
The Tennessee DHS guidelines page publishes the child support guidelines, worksheets, and calculators used to determine support obligations
The parenting plan FAQ page answers common questions about how the parenting plan process works in Tennessee
The Tennessee court forms page includes general civil forms for custody filings, motions, and orders

Reach Out to Patterson Bray PLLC to Schedule a Consultation

If you are facing a custody dispute in Franklin, TN, Patterson Bray PLLC is ready to help. We have spent over two decades handling custody cases across Tennessee, and we understand what is at stake for you and your children. During your consultation, we will review your situation, discuss your options, and outline a plan for protecting your parenting rights.